Discovering the Impressionists at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Uncover the untold story of Monet, Renoir, Manet, Degas, Pissarro, and their visionary art dealer and champion, Paul Durand-Ruel.
Despite its popularity today, Impressionism was not immediately embraced by collectors, dealers, or the public. An important figure in the rise of the Impressionists is Paul Durand-Ruel, a visionary Parisian art dealer who enthusiastically championed their radical new style of painting. The exhibition Discovering Impressionists, which opens at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on June 24, examines the critical years from 1865 to 1905 when Durand-Ruel both inspired and sustained artists like Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Édouard Manet, Camille Pissarro, and Edgar Degas. World-famous masterpieces by these artists and others are shown with historical photographs and documents to explore this vital period.

This exhibition traces the development of Impressionism—its struggles, successes, and eventual recognition—and reveals Durand-Ruel’s role in the movement. The extraordinary quality of the Impressionist paintings that were once part of his gallery’s stock is a testament to the dealer’s deep personal relationships with the now-celebrated artists, his unwavering belief in contemporary painting, and his substantial business acumen.

Running from June 24 through September 13, the exhibition was also the inspiration for the museum’s Art After 5 on June 26 – Parisian Cabaret. At the Art After 5 event guests can see the museum transformed into a bustling Parisian nightclub. Live, hot jazz and a variety show of dance and circus-like performances provide a taste of the “City of Light.”

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